Ponca cops seek tips in Asbury investigation

Ponca City police are reaching out to the public for more information about what happened to Aaron Asbury, the 19-year-old Ark City man who is in critical condition in a Wichita hospital.

On Jan. 1, around 9:45 a.m., dispatchers received a request for an ambulance to be sent to the 1300 block of South 7th. The caller told police that a friend, Asbury, was at the home and experiencing medical issues.

The ambulance took Asbury to Ponca City Medical Center and three days later he was transferred to Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis in Wichita. His family reports that he’s critically ill and in a coma.

The case remains under investigation.

“Somebody knows more about what happened,” Sherry Bowers, public relations officer for the Ponca City Police Dept., said Tuesday. “We need them to come forward and provide us with that information.”

Family of Asbury has suggested the man may have been the victim of someone poisoning him with synthetic drugs, like bath salts.

Bowers would not comment on that information and said little additional information would be released so as not to taint the investigation in a harmful way.

Anyone wishing to send an anonymous tip online regarding the New Years Eve and early morning New Year’s Day happenings involving Aaron Asbury, or any other crime, can click here.

Click on the Crime stoppers link on the home page, fill out the tip sheet, and send the information.

Or, you can text PCPD plus your message to CRIMES (274637) from your cell phone. If you want to contact us by email, click here, if you want to phone in a tip, the number is (580)762-5100.
As always, you will remain anonymous, and you may receive a reward of up to $1,000.